Eden Bar & Grill, Dublin

We just sampled the new menus at Eden Bar & Grill, and were pretty wowed with the creative dishes. Oven Roasted Figs with Ardsallagh Goat's Cheese, Lavender Honey and Pomegranate - just divine! Exceptional value for the Early Bird menu which is available all night during the week. Best value in town!

EDEN BAR & GRILL enjoys a great location in the centre of Dublin and is a really popular location for great food and cocktails in a relaxed and friendly ambiance. We visited previously on the run up to Christmas, and enjoyed a great meal in a friendly busy atmosphere. Last time we decided to try out their Brunch menu - and what a treat that was! Definitely the best Brunch I have had in a long time!

The most tasty Salmon and Caper Fishcakes, with perfectly poached egg and Dill Hollandaise Sauce, polished off with Hash Browns. We also had the creamy scrambled eggs, triple cooked chips, smoked paprika mayo. And because of the day that was in it - cold, wet and wintery, we had started with one of their famous cocktails. What a super Saturday, and next time I am going to try their Lamb Burger, or perhaps Steak & Eggs. We do enjoy Brunch at the weekends, and this is the perfect place for it.

I love the open kitchen,where you can see all the chefs at work and the menu is always seasonal. On a previous visit we had excellent potted crab, delicious venison and an exceptional nutty coated sea-bass with citrus and apricot. Seriously creative cooking at work here.

Previously, we had visited for dinner a couple of times and we were also well impressed as it certainly lived up to its positive reputation. It was a cold winter night when we arrived, but there were heaters right inside the door, and we were soon settled into a cosy table for two near the bar.

The place was buzzing, it was a Saturday night and there were large and small tables all enjoying the evening. We decided to start with a cocktail, and I ordered one of the House Specials - a FRESH 75. This suited me perfectly, it was based on gin with Prosecco and Lemon served in a martini glass. Delicious! Our other choice was a Bellini - a great classic.

And so the food - there are several menus from Brunch to Lunch, Early Bird and Dinner, Wine and Drinks. The Early Bird is very good value with two courses at €20 and three for €24.50. I chose a starter from the Early Bird - Stuffed Calamari with Chorizo and Feta - could not resist that, three of my favourite foods! It did not disappoint, it came with parsley Puree and Frisee Salad. I chose the Hake & Scallops from the A La Carte, a fish-lovers delight on a bed of lemon crushed potato, wild mushroom (very seasonal) and a Fennell and Orange Citrus emulsion. Our other main course however, was the real star of the show. BRAISED BEEF BOURGUIGNON, this was two big tender chunks of beautiful beef presented on Creamy Mash with Mushroom and Pancetta and Chantenay carrots. Probably the best Beef Bourgignon ever. Can't say more than that.

Lots of choice on both menus, the Venison with Sweet Potato Fondant (again very seasonal) was tempting as was the Duck Leg Confit with Puy Lentils which sounded like real comfort food. I did love the seasonality of the dishes which was carried through to desserts with Winter Berry Mousse and even Christmas Pudding. Wild Mushrooms, Wood Pigeon, Pumpkin and Chestnut and Venison are great autumn/winter foods and it is brilliant to see them all incorporated so well into creative contemporary dishes.